BIDMC earns national recognition for efforts to improve cardiovascular treatment

The American Heart Association presents multiple Achievement Awards for implementation of quality care for patients

BOSTON – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has received six American Heart Association Achievement Awards for implementing quality improvement measures that ensure cardiovascular patients receive efficient and coordinated care, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer returns to the hospital.

Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have experienced some form of cardiovascular disease – including heart attack, stroke and heart failure. For patients with conditions that are severe enough to be transported or admitted to a hospital, time is critical.

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs help reduce barriers to prompt treatment for cardiovascular events. As a participant in Get With The Guidelines programs, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center applied for the award recognitions by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care for patients.

“We are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing exceptional care for our patients who have experienced cardiovascular events,” said Anthony Weiss, MD, MBA, MSc, chief medical officer at BIDMC. “The Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs help us achieve the very best possible outcomes for our patients and their families.”

This year, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center received the following Achievement Awards:

• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy- These hospitals, in addition to their achievement of Gold or Silver, are recognized for Door to Device times in at least 50% of applicable patients within 90 minutes for direct arriving and within 60 minutes for transfers.
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll - Elite Plus- These hospitals, in addition to their achievement of Gold or Silver, are recognized for 75% or higher adherence for Time to IV thrombolytic therapy in 45 minutes or less and 50% or higher in Time to IV thrombolytic therapy in 30 minutes or less.
• Get With The Guidelines - Resuscitation: Gold Achievement- These hospitals are recognized for two or more consecutive calendar years of 85% or higher adherence on all achievement measures in resuscitation.
• Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure: Gold Plus Achievement- These hospitals are recognized for two or more consecutive calendar years of 85% or higher adherence on all achievement measures applicable and 75% or higher adherence with additional select quality measures in heart failure.
• Get With The Guidelines - Stroke: Gold Plus Achievement- These hospitals are recognized for two or more consecutive calendar years of 85% or higher adherence on all achievement measures applicable and 75% or higher adherence with additional select quality measures in stroke.
• Target: Heart Failure- These hospitals in addition to their achievement of Gold or Silver are recognized for 50% or higher performance to all relevant Target Measures.

“We are pleased to recognize Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for their commitment to cardiovascular care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, MD, FAHA, FAAN, FANA, national chairperson of the American Heart Association’s Quality Oversight Committee and Vice President of Virtual Care, Director of the Center for Telehealth, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the American Heart Association’s quality improvement programs often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”